Wheel support



y J. A. LACLAIR 2,441,638

WHEEL SUPPORT Filed April 50, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. A. LACLAIR WHEEL SUPPORT May 18, 1948.

Z n HHIIM' Fil ed April 50, 1946 2 Shets-Sheet 2 -il'z'az zzjzd Inventor Patented May 18, 1948 UNITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE WHEEL surron'r P Joseph A. Laclair, Flat Rock, Mich. Application April 30, 1946, Serial No. 666,143 7 3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in wheel supports for use in replacing tire equipped automobile wheels.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a simply constructed, inexpensive, readily portable device for supporting automobile wheels in elevated position off the ground for manipulation on to the usual wheel studs, so as to obviate lifting such wheels and thereby save time and labor.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, set forth in detail in the succeeding description, and defined in the claims appended hereto.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating my improved wheel support in side elevation, and the manner in which the same is used in replacing an automobile wheel.

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation looking at the rear end of the support and at the rear side of the wheel.

Figure 3 is a view in plan of the support drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 4 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and drawn to an trated embodiment thereof, comprises a plate- 35 like base I, of elongated rectangular shape, which may be formed of any inexpensive metal, and in any suitable size for convenient carrying, and isprovided with a pair of laterally spaced keeper flanges 2 of right angled cross section struck 40 up therefrom upon opposite sides of the transverse center thereof to extend crosswise of the same.

The described base I forms a stabilizing member for a leaf spring member 3 formed from a 45 resilient steel bar bent back upon itself intermediate the ends thereof, as at 4, to provide a lower leg 5 and a relatively shorter upper leg 6. The free end of the lower leg '5 is fitted tight in the keeper flanges 2 so that the remainder 50 of said leg extends to one side of the base I, and said leg 5 is bent, as at 1, to lie in the plane of the base I, whereby said base I and leg 5 may be ,positioned fiat on the ground. The upper 4 over the lower leg 5 in the general direction of the base I and terminates adjacent to said base in a concave, downwardly bent, free end 8 adapted to form a seat for the tire of an automobile wheel disposed crosswise thereof, as best shown in Figure 2. The leaf spring member 3 is sufliciently re-active to support the usual automobile 'tire and wheel elevated above the base I a distance slightly greater than that to which the wheel must be jacked up to clear the ground, or the floor of a garage.

A preferred use of the described wheel support will now be described. To replace, or remount, an automobile wheel 9, with the automobile lll jacked up sufilciently for the Wheel 9, in other words the tire H, to clear the ground, for instance, and as shown in Figure 1, the wheel support is shoved along the ground toward the brake :drum l2 to dispose the base I under said brake drum with the leaf spring member 3 extending from the base I outwardly of the outboard side of said brake drum l2 and with the free end 8 of said member positioned to support the wheel 9 alongside said brake drum l2 and just clear of the usual wheel mounting studs [3 on said drum. The upper leg 5 is then depressed, by foot pressure, the wheel 9 rolled on to said free end 8, by hand, and the foot pressure relieved so that said leg 5 is free to spring upwardly to elevate the wheel 9 and tire ll slightly above proper position for mounting the usual apertures M in said wheel over said studs l3, all as shown in Figure 1. The support is then pushed further under the brake drum l2, while, at the same time, the upper leg 6 is depressed by manual pressure on the tire II to lower the wheel 9 sufliciently for manipulation of the same sidewise on to the studs I3. After the wheel 9 is completely replaced, it may be lowered and run off the support in a manner which will be clear.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufilce to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A support for a wheel comprising a platelike base adapted to rest flat on the ground, a leaf spring member extending from said base to one side thereof and embodying a lower ground leg 5 n y extends wardly from the bend 5 engaging leg having an end attached to said base.

and an upper depressible leg overlying the lower leg and provided with a terminal end seat onto which the Wheel may be rolled when said upper leg is depressed, said upper leg being reactive upwardly to lift said wheel.

2. A support for a wheel comprising a platelike base adapted to rest flat on the ground, a leaf spring member extending from said base to one side-thereof and embodying-aflower ground engaging leg having an end attachedto said base, and an upper :depressible leg overlying the lower leg and provided with a terminal end seat onto which the wheel may be rolled when said upper leg is depressed, said upper leg being're-- active upwardly to lift said wheel, said baserbeing provided with a pair of keeper flanges struck upwardly therefrom and in which :said attached-I end of the ground engaging leg is fitted.

3. A support for a wheel comprising a platelike base adapted to rest flat on the ground, a leaf spring member extending from said base to one side thereof and embodying a lower ground engaging leg having an end attached to said 7 base, and an upper depressible leg overlying the lower leg and provided with a terminal end seat onto which the Wheel may be rolled when said upper leg 1 is depressed, "sa.ld: upper leg' being reactive upwardly to liftvsaid wheel; said base being provided with a pair of keeper flanges struck upwardly therefrom and in which said attached end of the ground engaging leg is fitted, said-terminal end being bent downwardly of the upper-leg and concave to form said seat.

JOSEPH A. LACLAIR. 

